Kerameikos is the most underrated major archaeological site in central Athens. The official cemetery of the ancient city from the 12th century BC through the Late Roman period, the 38-hectare site sits at the foot of Filopappou Hill on the northwest edge of the historical centre. It contains the two main ancient city gates (the Sacred Gate and the Dipylon), the original Themistoclean city walls, hundreds of beautifully sculpted funerary stelai including a full reconstruction of the Street of Tombs, and the small but excellent Oberländer Museum displaying the finest finds. You will rarely see more than 30 other visitors here even at peak summer, despite the site’s importance and the ridiculously low entry price. This is the complete Kerameikos Athens cemetery and museum guide for 2026.
All information was verified for the 2026 season.
What Is Kerameikos?
Kerameikos (named after the potters who worked here from the Bronze Age onwards; the modern English word “ceramic” comes from the same root) was the official cemetery of ancient Athens from at least the 12th century BC through the 6th century AD. The 38-hectare archaeological site includes the cemetery itself, the foundations of the two main city gates (the Sacred Gate and the Dipylon), a 200-metre section of the 5th-century-BC city walls built by Themistocles, the Pompeion building (where the Panathenaic procession assembled), and the on-site Oberländer Museum displaying the most important funerary sculptures.
For broader context, see our Athens Historical Sites pillar, our Ancient Agora guide, and our things to do guide.
Kerameikos 2026 Tickets & Prices
Standard Ticket
€8 full price summer (April-October), €4 winter (November-March). Includes entry to the museum. Reduced rate half the standard.
Combined Ticket (Best Value)
Kerameikos is one of the seven sites covered by the €36 combined Athens archaeological ticket. If you have the combined ticket, Kerameikos costs nothing additional.
Free Admission Days
March 6, April 18, May 18, September 26-27, October 28, first Sunday of every month November-March.
Opening Hours for 2026
Summer (April-October): Daily 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Last entry 6:30 PM. Winter (November-March): Daily 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Last entry 2:30 PM.
Closed: January 1, March 25, May 1, Orthodox Easter Sunday, December 25-26.
How to Get There
By metro: Kerameikos station (Line 3, blue), 2-minute walk. Thissio station (Line 1, green) is also 5-minute walk south. By foot: 11 minutes from Monastiraki, 15 minutes from Plaka, 8 minutes from Thissio.
What to See: The Major Areas
1. The Dipylon Gate
The “Double Gate” was the main entrance to ancient Athens, leading to the Sacred Way that ran to the sanctuary at Eleusis. The foundations are clearly visible; the original gateway flanked two square towers and an inner court that allowed defenders to attack invaders from above. The Panathenaic procession started here each year.
2. The Sacred Gate
A second, smaller gate immediately south of the Dipylon, leading to the Sacred Way procession route. The foundations include the original cult statue niche and the gate’s outer towers.
3. The Themistoclean Wall
About 200 metres of the 5th-century-BC city walls built by Themistocles immediately after the Persian Wars survive within the Kerameikos zone. The wall is built from reused architectural blocks from older monuments, a clear sign of the haste with which it was constructed in 478 BC. Walking along the wall foundations gives an excellent sense of the original city perimeter.
4. The Street of Tombs
The most photographed area of Kerameikos, a 200-metre stretch of restored ancient road lined with reproductions of the original funerary stelai (the originals are in the on-site museum). The stelai include some of the most famous Classical Greek funerary sculptures: the Stele of Dexileos (a young cavalry officer killed in 394 BC), the Stele of Hegeso (a woman choosing jewellery), and the Stele of Aristion. Walking the Street of Tombs at sunset is one of the most atmospheric experiences in Athens.
5. The Pompeion
The large 4th-century-BC building where the Panathenaic procession assembled each year before processing through the Dipylon Gate and along the Sacred Way to the Acropolis. The foundations preserve the colonnaded courtyard and the foundations of an attached symposium dining hall.
6. The Oberländer Museum
The on-site museum (named after its 1937 architect) is small but essential. Four galleries display: the original funerary stelai from the Street of Tombs (the museum’s most important holdings); a comprehensive collection of Athenian pottery from the Bronze Age through the Classical period; bronze and ivory grave goods; and a small Cycladic and Mycenaean section. Allow 45 minutes.
Best Time to Visit
Late afternoon (4-6 PM in summer, 1-3 PM in winter) gives the most photogenic light angle on the Street of Tombs. The site is essentially never crowded, so visit timing matters mainly for photography and personal preference rather than for crowd avoidance.
How Long to Spend
Allow 90 minutes minimum, 2 hours for a thorough visit including the museum. Combine with the Ancient Agora (5 minutes’ walk) for a perfect 4-hour archaeological-classical Athens morning.
Photography & Atmosphere
Photography is permitted everywhere with no flash inside the museum. Tripods are technically prohibited but rarely enforced outdoors. The Street of Tombs is the most-photographed area; the pomelo and olive trees that grow throughout the site give it a distinctive Mediterranean cemetery atmosphere.
Accessibility
Kerameikos is partially wheelchair-accessible. The main entrance ramp leads to a paved central path. Several archaeological areas (the Themistoclean Wall, the Street of Tombs) are reachable; some narrower side paths are unpaved gravel. The museum is fully accessible.
Combining with Other Sites
Kerameikos pairs perfectly with the Ancient Agora (5 minutes’ walk via Thissio). Standard morning route: Kerameikos at 8 AM opening (90 minutes), walk to Ancient Agora (5 minutes), Ancient Agora (90 minutes), lunch in Monastiraki or Thissio. Total cost: €36 combined ticket. Add the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum for a full classical Athens day; the combined ticket covers all of these except the Acropolis Museum.
The History in Detail
Kerameikos was named after the kerameis (potters) who had workshops here from the early Bronze Age. The earliest burials date from the 12th-century-BC sub-Mycenaean period; the cemetery was used continuously through the Roman period and into the early Christian centuries. The most important Athenian families had their family plots along the Street of Tombs and at the foot of the Sacred Way. The cemetery’s importance is reflected in the public state funerals held here for Athenian war dead; Pericles delivered his famous Funeral Oration (recorded by Thucydides) for the first dead of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC at the public memorial within Kerameikos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kerameikos?
Kerameikos was the official cemetery of ancient Athens from the 12th century BC through the 6th century AD. The archaeological site includes the cemetery itself, the two main city gates (Sacred Gate and Dipylon), the Themistoclean walls, and the on-site Oberländer Museum displaying the original funerary sculptures.
How much does Kerameikos cost?
€8 standard summer ticket; €4 winter. Includes museum entry. Included in the €36 combined Athens archaeological ticket which covers seven sites including the Acropolis.
What are the Kerameikos opening hours?
Summer (April-October): 8 AM to 7 PM daily. Winter (November-March): 8 AM to 3 PM daily. Closed Greek public holidays.
What is the Street of Tombs at Kerameikos?
The Street of Tombs is a 200-metre stretch of restored ancient road lined with reproductions of the original funerary stelai from the cemetery. The stelai include some of the most famous Classical Greek funerary sculptures including the Stele of Dexileos, the Stele of Hegeso, and the Stele of Aristion.
How long does the Kerameikos visit take?
Allow 90 minutes minimum, 2 hours for a thorough visit including the on-site Oberländer Museum. The site is rarely crowded so visits can be relaxed and slow.
Is Kerameikos walkable from the Acropolis?
Yes, 15 minutes’ walk via Thissio and the Ancient Agora. Kerameikos pairs naturally with the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis for a full classical Athens morning or day.
Is Kerameikos worth visiting?
Yes, particularly for visitors interested in classical Greek sculpture, ancient Athenian history, or the Athenian democratic period. The Street of Tombs is one of the most atmospheric archaeological experiences in Athens, and the on-site museum’s funerary stelai are some of the finest examples of Classical Greek sculpture anywhere. The site is dramatically less crowded than the Acropolis.
Plan the Rest of Your Athens Trip
For more historical sites, see our pillar guide to Athens historical sites and museums, our Acropolis guide, our Ancient Agora guide, our National Archaeological Museum guide, our Temple of Olympian Zeus guide, and our top 25 attractions.